Beverage display and mixing machine



` March 14, 1939. A. F. wlLLA'r n 2,150,792

BEVERAGE DISPLAY AND MIXING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1932' @sheets-sheet 1 March 14, 1939. A. F. wlLLAT 2,150,792

BEVERAGE DISPLAY AND MIXING MACHINE. Y n I Filed July 19, 1932 2 sheets-sheet 2 @am Y W4- in proper condition for dispensing anddrinking.,

Unirse s'rA'rss lPiiilezlvi OFFICE- I BEVERAGE DISPLAY AND MIXING' MACHINE Arnold F. Wlllat, San Rafael, Calif., assigner, by

direct and 'mesne assignments, ci! Pittsburgh, Pa.,

- Albert L. Jacobs,

E. J. W. Keagy, Pittsburgh,

one-third to one-third to Pa., and one-third to Reymer & Brothers, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation o! Pennsylv Application July 19, 1932. serial No; 623,350 ze claims. (01. ca -114) The invention relates to a means of displaying and mixing cold beverages and maintaining same The machine in its present form is particularly adapted for use with partially frozen liquid beverages containing particles of iresh fruitor the like and ice. In order that the beverage will be'. most palatable andconducive toready dispensing, it is necessary to keep bothrthe ice particles and fruit or the like evenly distributed through? out the beverage liquid. Ordinarily this is not easy of 'accomplishment since the fruit particles l or the like tend to settle in a slush-like mass` while on the other hand the ice particles, not

unlike pieces of cork, persist in floating on the surface of the liquid and stubbornly resist almost 'all efforts to bring about their submersion.

While it is truethat a vigorous mixing or agitation of the beverage will produce a distribution of the s1ush", such actionwill have no appreciable eiect on .the ice particles and any submersion thereof will be quickly followed by Pa hurried return to the surface. 'In the machine oi my, invention. means are provided which will furnish the desiredstirring action for the slush and at the same time set up within the beverage container vertical streams or currents oi the liquid which cause the Iice particles to descend therewith and keep on circulating through the entire liquid whereby a most thorough distribution of the beverage constituents is provided and ,the beverage will be given a rich and syruplike body. 'f j One of the specific objects of the invention is to provide means which willserve to create throughout the entire body of the beverages. multiplicity o! individual streams moving vertically in diierent directions through the full depth of the beverage.

Another object is to provide means which will insure a continuous supply oi ice particles tor` the beverage liquid during the entire period the machine is in operation. A. Another object of the invention is to provide in a dispenser arranged to contain and maintain va beverage at a temperature below freezing,

means which will serve to etiectually break up anyconc'ntration of the J-ice particles on the walls of the beverage container` and refrigerator parts in contact with the beverage and at thel same time provide for the beverage the desired ice particles in desired form and size.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an effective means for obtaining the mixture oi the slush and ice particles, which is designed,

and beverage agitating means, while to remain immersed in the beverage during the ing ice-clogged and insulated or the elementand vmeans aforesaid appreciably reducing the volu`I metric capacity of the dispenser,

A stili further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the character described..in which the dperation of the reirigeratingmeans is/controlled by viscosity of the beverage. The invention possesses other objects and features of advantagefsome oi which. with the Loregoifng, will'be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of ithe specification. It' is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope Aof the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a view 'of the dispenser provideddispenser with two dispensing containers. one l being in side elevation and the other in.4

section.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the dispenser, partly in horizontal section. 1 Figures ilv and 4 are end and side views' otone oi the liquid deegors used in the device.

' Figureb is a ve cal sectional view oi the de l livery portion o! the dispenser. t Figure 6 -is a detail side view of temperature control means used in the device.

As illustrated in the drawings, the v`dispenser in its present form comprises a suitable supporting base 2 lhaving mounted thereon one or more containers 3 here shown two in number and designed for the storage and dispensing .oibeverages served icy cold. Each container is preierably formed with plate and lower ends ofthe cylinders, the desired retention of the cylinders against the plate being ail'orded throughl means of bolts 9 extending between the cylinders and engaged at their upper ends by nuts I2. A cover I3 is provided at the top of each container and is held against .the-

Arranged centrally within eachcontainer andl coaxial with the side wallsthereof is a refrigerating element I4 here shown in the form of a hollow cylinder provided with hollow walls I8 deilning an annular chamber I1 for the refrigerant medium. The element is conveniently supported on the base plate 1 in spaced relation therefrom by pipes I8 through which the medium aforesaid isl circulated through the chamber I1, the refrigeration plant including the electric motor 30 and the compressor 8l being contained within the base. It will be seen that with the Yelement I4 open at `both ends and completely spaced from the top and bottom, as well as the side walls of the container, the beverage may readily circulate through and around the element in intimatecontact with all external portions thereof.

Since the inner andvouter exterior sides I8 and 2l of the 'element I4 are cylindrical and the surfaces are smooth and continuous, the element readily lends itself for use in connection there; with of means for easily and effectively scraping or removing any ice formed on its sides so that the insulation of the walls of the elements and the consequent impairment oi its eillciency will not be entailed. Furthermore in the present embodiment of the invention such removal of the.

ice from the element serves asa continuous source of supply of fine ice particles for the beverage. Accordingly, as clearly shown in Figure l', there are associated with the sides I3 and 20, scraping units 22 and 23 which are mounted for movement in the container-preferably for oscillation or continuous rotation-in one directionin such mannerthat when in operation practically the entire exterior surface of the element will besub- Jected to a thorough scraping action. Both units 22 and -23 are fixed to an upright shaft 24 in coaxial relation with the element I4 and disposed in a bearing 23 in the cover plate I3, and both unitsn are comprised of a plurality of horizontally-spaced vertical blades 21 and 28 respectively having one of their edges in close proximity to the associated sides of the element and preferablyserrated for facilitating the scraping of the ice therefrom. The blades 21 are held properly positioned at the top by means of .extensions 23 secured to the shaftA 24 while .extensions 3l hold the blades rigidly at the bottom. Likewise with the blades 23, rigidity at the top is obtained by attachment to cross bars 32 xed to shaft=24, while rigidity of such blades at the bottomV is .had by means of a ring 33 which encircles and engages the refrigerating element and to which {he lower ends of the blades are secured. It is to be noted that the members 22 and 23 and shaf 24 are .secured together to provide a unitaril revoluble structure, and as here shown, to ail'ord support for the latter for rotation and as a means functioning with shaft 24 and bearing 3, in maintaining the proper positioning of the blades 21 in the element, cooperating bearing members 34 and 35 in axial alignment with shaft 24 are provided on the extensions -3I and plate 1 respectively, engagement or disengagement of the members 34 and 35 being arranged to be effected by vertical displacement of one relativeto the other. It Iis to be further noted that the members 22 and 23 are so connected together and to the shaft 24 that vertical displacement thereof as a unitis ail'orded, and removal of such unit from or replacement thereof for operative positioning on the refrigerating element may be ei'- fected upon said displacement. It will now be clear that on rotation of the unit in a manner causing the blades to move over the entire or major portion of the surface of the element sides, no' film of ice of any appreciable depth can form on the element to impair the heat transferring properties of the walls thereof.

'I'he cutting edge of the scraping blades' is formed with small uniformly spaced teeth as in a saw, so that the ice in being removed from the element is broken up evenly into particles of a size desirable for use in the "beverage to increase its palatability. Thus as long as the machine is in operation a supply of ice particles will be continuously fed to the beverage liquid.

One of the most important features of my invention is the provision of efdcient means serving firstly for stirring the slush". secondly for keeping the liquid ata uniform temperature and circulating in the container so that the desired physical and chemical state of the beveragemay be maintained at all times, and thirdly creating and maintaining in the'container a plurality of streams or currents of the liquid which are caused to circulate in a 'manner insuring the ready and complete descension and submergence of the ice particles suspended in the liquid. The effective accomplishment of the above by means or mechanism utilizing many parts of the other mechanism in the dispenser affords the additional advantage of proper co-relation in operation of the mechanisms, avoiding duplication of many parts, and reducing the cost of manufacture and operation. In the present embodiment -of the invention the mixing or circulating meansl aforesaid is incorporated with the mechanism for preventing the massing of ice on the refrigerator element and the breaking of the ice into small particles, and not only includes parts of the latter mechanism but is motivated in a manner suitable for motivation of the scraping mechanism whereby the same driving mechanism and mounting means may be used for both. Carried on the rotatable scraping structure, preferably for positioning close to the side walls of the container,

area plurality of deilectors 31 mounted to swing through a limited arc. As here shown the deflectors are pivotally mounted on pins 33 car-v ried on the blades 23 and as will be clear from Figures 1 and 2, a set of the deflectors are carried on each blade in vertically spaced relation and with the pins imyertical alignment each set of the deflectors extending for the greater portion of the depth of the container. In the present instance, four sets of delectors are provided and the sets are spacedl equidistantly' -around the container. By reference to, Figure 2, it' will be seen the defiectors of alternate sets 4I are mounted in inverted relation to the deflectors in the remaining sets 42, that is the deectors in the first sets are mounted with the pins at the upper end of the deflectors, while the deilectors in the second sets are mounted with the pins at the lower end of the deectors. Each deilector is limited to move out of its vertical position to a point at either side thereof through an acute angle. It will now be clear that on rotation of the carrying structure in a. given direction all the.

deectors immersed in the' liquid will be forced backward by the latter to its rearward position whereby theliquid will be divided into streams between the deilectors to flowiin a direction de fined by the angle of `the deectors engaged' thereby. Thus the liquid flowing between the .de-

iiectors in set Il will be caused to move downthe "slush" and.l any other substance in the bev.

erase tending to precipitate and descend to the bottom of the container will be thrust upwardly to mix with the substances at the top of the beverage as well as with the remainder of the contents. Since the downward current is thus accompanied with a corresponding upward current, a smooth and continuous circulation of the liquid is thus set up and the iceparticles will readily follow the course of the current to thus insure their complete mixing and retention throughout the liquid. It will be evident that as the rotating structure advances, liquid is caused to pass successively through the-different sets of the detlectors and alternately subjectedlto vertical movement in opposite directions. thereby insuring a thorough agitation of the contents and y a uniform distribution of the separate and solid particles in the beverage.

As an added insurance ofthe subjection of all V the beverage to the full action of the deflectors, the rotating structure` is preferably caused to oscillate or reveme its direction of motion intermittently.

to thus impart a similar vertical flow ofv the liquid but through a different channel than that,

tary carrier, a most complete agitation and intermixture will result. In the present design. since the scraper blades are a part ofthe rotating structure, the oscillatory movement of the latter in each direction is arranged to extend to at least 90 degrees so as to insure a complete scraping of the refrigerator element walls. The desired oscillation of the rotary carrier may be effected in `any suitable manner. As here shown. such movement is provided for by means of a motor- 'operated continuously-rotating crank which is y connected by links 41 to crank arms Alon the shafts 24. The relation of the cranks and ll` is such that the throw of cranks Il will be somewhat in excess of a quarter revolution in opposite directions for each revolution of crank 46. It r is important to note thattheentire mechanism of the mixing means remains contained in the beverage receptacle throughout the entire opera- In way when the structure is rotated reversely of the direction tlrst mentioned;- the. deectors will be swung to a reverse position tion and that in view thereof substantially no extra space is required for such mechanism and the over-all dimensions of the vdispenser'proper may be governed practically aitirely by the size of the container required for the beverage.

The beverage may be introduced into the dispenser through suitable openings 49 in the cover, ori! a hood such as member-5l is4 used, intr duction of the liquid may be through a passage 52 in the shaft 2l, an opening 53 being provided in the hood in registration with the passage.

Discharge of the beverage from the dispenser is arranged to be accomplished in a particularly eicient manner. As will be clear from Figure 5, the base plate 'l is provided `with a 'delivery tube 5l, the intake opening 56 of which is designed-to be closed by a vertically displac'eable valve il engaging on the upper side of the opening so that the weight of the liquid in the con.

tainer serves to hold the valve seated.. Displacement of the valve is arranged to be eiected by means of a lever 58 one arm 58 of which exntends intothe tube" 54 to engage the valve, while the other arm 6| extends to the front of the dispenserV and is provided with a handle so the lever may be rockedby the operator to lift the valve. In 4order to prevent any splashing or leaking of the liquid from the tube when the valve is opened, an -extension is provided for the' tube with all portions of its upper edge higher than the edges 'of the discharge orice of the tube.-

i Means are also provided for regulating the operation of the refrigerating unit in accordance with.the vviscosity or consistency of the beverage in the container. means comprises a rotatable member |52v extending downwardly into the container and .driven continuously through a suitable driving connec- .tion such as the means for oscillating the rotarycarrier. A vane 63 is 'carried by the member 'near the bottom of the container.. and provided on the member at a point intermediate the vane `and driving connection is a coupling 64 having sections 66 and 51 which are caused to be moved toward or from each -other in'accordance with resistance to the rotation of the section 61 with which the'vane is associated. The 7coupling .includes a set of links 68 connecting -the sections 86 and 01 together, the links extending, loosely through openings 69 in the sections so that partial rotative displacement between the sections is permitted but accompanied with a corresponding axial displacement of section 81. Suchy displacement of section t1 is utilized herein for operating an electric switch 1l which is connectedfto wires 12 in the circuit of refrigerator motor I l, and thus controlling the electric circuit oi the yrefrigeration mechanism; In this manner, when the consistency of the beverage varies from one predetermined "state'to another, the section 61 will be displaced from one position to another to close or open the switch as the As here shown, such state oi the beverage requires. In order that 1. In a mixingmachine for preparing partially frozen liquids` containing some solid par- .x ticles,.a receptacle for the liquid, a carrier member mounted to oscillate in the receptacle about R a`substantially vertical axis, Vand reversably vpositionable deilectors carried by said member arranged to move through said receptacle to create a downwardly directed current and an upwardly directed current in the liquid therein as the carrier is oscillated.

2. In a mixing machine for preparing partially frozen liquids containing some solidfparticles, a receptacle for the liquid, a carrier member mounted to rotate in the receptacle about a substantially vertical axis, and reversably positionable deilectors on the carrier arranged on rotation of the latter to create oppositely directed vertical currents in the liquid.

3. In a mixing machine for preparing partially frozen liquids containing some solid particles, a receptacle for the liquid, a carrier member mounted to oscillate in the receptacle about a substantially vertical axis, and reversely positionable defiectors on said carrier engageable with the liquid whereby on movement of the carrier in reverse directions the deflectors will be shifted from -a position creating a current in the liquid directed obliquely downwardly in one direction to a position creating a current in the liquid directed obliquely downwardly in another direction.

4. In a beverage container, a receptacle for the beverage, a carrier member mounted to oscillate in the receptacle about a substantially vertical axis, a set 'of reversely positionable deflectors on said carrier engageable with the beverage where-'iby on reversal of the movement of the carrier the deilectors will be shifted from a position directing the beverage obliquely upwardly in onedirection to a position directing the beverage obliquely upwardly in another direction, and a second set of reversely positionable deflectors on the carrier engageable with the beverage whereby on reversal of the movement of the carrier the deilectors will be shifted from a position directing' the beverage obliquely downwardly in one direction to a position directing the beverage obliquely downwardly in another direction. l

5. In a display and mixing machine for preparing partially frozen liquids containingV some solid particles, a receptacle for the liquid, a first means arranged to move through said receptacle to create directed substantially vertical currents in the liquid contained therein and a second means arranged to move through said receptacle to create substantially vertical currents in the liquid in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of currents created by said rst means.

6. In a beverage container, a receptacle for the beverage, a carrier mounted to oscillate in the receptacle about a substantially vertical axis, a set of substantially vertically aligned deile/tors for the beverage pivoted adjacent their upper ends lto said carrier for movement about a substantially horizontal axis, and a second set of substantially vertically aligned deilectors for the beverage -pivoted adjacent their. lower ends to said carrier for movement about a substantially horizontal axis, the deilectors of each lof said sets being limited in movement out of a vertical msition to a point at each side thereof through an acute angle.

7. In a beverage container, a receptacle for the beverage, a refrigeration element therein spaced from the side walls and bottom of the receptacle and with its sides arranged for contact with the beverage, a carriere: mounted to oscillateV in the receptacle about a substantially vertical axis,

scraping devices onsaid carrier for movement across the sides of said element, and means on the carrier disposed between the scraping devices andthe walls of the receptacle operative toA deflect the beverage upwardly and downwardly throughout the container.'

8. In a liquid beverage mixing machine. a receptacle for the beverage, means serving to provide for the beverage a substantially continual supply of ice particles and means in the receptacle for maintaining a downwardly circulating current in the beverage to force the ice particles downwardly therethrough to provide a homogeneous beverage.

9. In a mixingmachine for a beverage having particles of ice therein, a receptacle for and a' device to circulate the beverage with the ice. a refrigerating means for reducing the temperature of the beverage while in the receptacle, and means controlled by the viscosity ofthe beverage in the receptacle for operating said ilrst means to maintain said beverage at a substantially predetermined viscosity. y

10. In a device of thecharacter described, a refrigerating unit, means for circulating a iluid mixture over said unit to refrigerate said mixture, and means for controlling operation of said unit in accordance with Vviscosity of said circulated mixture to maintain a substantially predetermined viscosity in said mixture.

11. In a beverage conditioning and dispensing machine the combination of a container, a cylindrical cooling unit disposed in said container, scraping means which oscillates around said unit to remove frozen particles therefrom, and downwardly hanging` paddles whichswing from shafts set in said scraping means whereby the loosed ice particles are pushed to the bottom of the mixture.

l2. In a beverage conditioning and dispensing machine the' combination of a container, a re frigerating means providing an ice-forming cylindrical surface in said container, scraping means which oscillates around said unit to remove frozen particles therefrom and downwardly hanging paddles which swing from shafts set in said scraping means whereby the loosed'ice` particles are pushed to the bottom of the mixture.

13. In a beverage conditioning and dispensing machine the combination of a container, refrig' erating means for said container, 'a frame mounted for oscillation in said container, means for imparting an oscillatory movement to said frame. and a plurality of paddles carried by said frame each hinged at one end\thereto and when oscillated by said frame acting to homogenize the mixture whereby the floating particles in the beverage are kept submerged in the draw-off ,zone of said container. f

14. Ina beverage dispenser, means for refrigerating a fruit `iuice mixture', means for circulating mixture over said refrigerating means to increase viscosity thereof,and control means for stopping and starting said circulation means in accordance with mixture viscosity. Y

15. In a beverage dispenser, means for refrigerating a fruit juice mixture, means for circulating mixture over said refrigerating means to increase viscosity thereof, and control means dependent upon viscosity of said mixture to selectively circulate mixture or, prevent circulation of mixture over said refrigeration means.

16. A method of making a fruit juice beverage which comprises confining a body of fruit juice in a container, exerting a freezing action upon such body of juice from within the body of juice to form frozen particles therein and circulating such juice while forming such frozen particles to maintain homogeneity at all times between frozen and unfrozen beverage portions.

17. In a mixing machine for a beverage having frozen particles therein, a receptacle for and a device to circulate the 'beverage with the frozen particles, refrigerating means for reducing the temperature of the beverage while in the receptacle below the melting point of such frozen particles and means controlled by the frozen condition of the beverage in the receptacle for oper- 19. In a beverage conditioning and dispensing machine of the kind described, a beverage container, a refrigerating unit disposed within said container and in a body of beverage therein, means associated with said refrigerating means -for removing frozen particles therefrom as such are formed and means for establishing internal currents within said beverage body to maintain homogeneity at all times between conditioned and ,unconditioned beverage portions.

20. Ina beverage dispenser, means for refrigerating a fruit juice mixture, means for causing fruit juice mixture to circulate' in heat exchange contact with'said refrigerating means to form frozen particles in saidv mixture and control means for stopping end starting'said circulating means in accordance with the percentagel ofy frozen particles in said mixture.

21. In a beverage dispenser, refrigerating means for conditioning a fruit juice mixture, circulating means for causing said mixture to pass in heat exchange contactl with said refrigerating means to produce frozen particles in said mixture andcontrol means dependent upon the percentage of frozen particles in said mixture to selectively continue or discontinue said refrigerating and circulating means.

22. A beverage conditioning machine of the character described comprising a generally cylindrical container adapted to receive a segregated body of unconditioned liquid beverage, means for rapidly lowering the temperature of portions of such unconditioned liquid beverage and having a refrigerating surface within said container in heat exchange relationship with such beverage, means for removing frozen particles from such surface as they form thereon and means for opposing the natural buoyant tendency of said frozen particles to prevent the same from stratifying with relation to said beveragev lbody of beverage mixture in said container to` prevent stratification thereof. v

` ARNOLD F. WILLAT. r 

